Last updated on June 16, 2017
Last updated on 30th June 2017
C – For Christ, Christianity and Church—Some Facts to Make Note Today the 3rd Day of A to Z Blog Challenge
My Entry for the 3rd Day with the Word “C”
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| An Open Bible.Contains the Basic Principles of Christianity. sxc.hu |
Christianity is a worldwide religion today; here are some facts about this wonderful religion.
Though it started with a meager number of 12 people (most of them illiterate) its growth was tremendous and now with around 2 billion believers around the world, Christianity stands at the top of the list among world religions.
Over the ages, Christianity went through many persecutions (still continues) from kings and rulers. But it continues its growth and Jesus Christ’s followers are increasing tremendously. In short, it is the largest religion in the world today. Here is a statistics of World Religion:
- Christianity: 2.1 billion
- Islam: 1.5 billion
- Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
- Hinduism: 900 million
- Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
- Buddhism: 376 million
- primal-indigenous: 300 million
- African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
- Sikhism: 23 million
- Juche: 19 million
- Spiritism: 15 million
- Judaism: 14 million
- Baha’i: 7 million
- Jainism: 4.2 million
- Shinto: 4 million
- Cao Dai: 4 million
- Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
- Tenrikyo: 2 million
- Neo-Paganism: 1 million
- Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
- Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
- Scientology: 500 thousand
From the beginning, Jesus’ believers faced cruel opposition from the rulers of the nation. Due to the severe persecution believers scattered to different cities and villages. Wherever they went the belief system sprouted and grown widely and its wings spread all around the world.
A close look at the history of Christianity will reveal the wonders it has done throughout the centuries. Just take the case of any modern developments in this world, it will tell the amazing story of the influence or role played by Christians or Christianity.
HISTORY CAN’T HIDE THE FACT
As we all know that America and some European countries are on top of the modern developmental activities among all nations. This is an undeniable fact. Just go back to the history of America and these European countries just before Christianity entered in these countries. It will definitely be a shocking fact that they were aggressive in nature and were leading an uncultured and brutal life like the people dwelling in forests.
It is amazing to note the tremendous changes happened in their life after Christ’s teachings entered in these countries. It is difficult to compare their past life and the present life as such a change has taken place in their life after accepting and following Jesus Christ and His teachings. Nobody can say that it is just because of the development of science. If someone thinks that way just looks into the life of such scientists. They were all followers and believers of Jesus Christ.
Let me list out few of the prominent names of such Christian scientists who contributed their life and blood for the betterment of the society. Let this be a reminder to my friends who blames Christians and Christianity.
Benjamin Franklin the scientist, an inventor, a statesman, a printer and publisher, a philosopher, a musician, and an economist. Who invented an efficient heating stove and proved that lightning is electricity was a Christ follower.
Galileo the astronomer, physicist, mathematician, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. The father of modern observational astronomy, the father of modern physics, the “father of science”, and “the Father of Modern Science was a Christian believer.
Sir Isaac Newton a mathematician and physicist, one of the foremost scientific intellects of all time who discovered how the universe is held together through his theory of gravitation, he also discovered the secrets of light and color too was a Christ follower.
Here are some more such scientists who followed Jesus Christ and His teachings:
Louis Pasteur a chemist and biologist, who proved the germ theory of disease and invented the process of pasteurization,
Devi Humphrey, the inventor of potassium and Davis Lamb.
Michael Faraday, the discoverer of elector-magnetic induction, elector-magnetic rotations, the magneto-optical effect, diam-magnetism, field theory.
James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine.
Henry Cavendish, the scientist noted for his discovery of hydrogen. He described the density of hydrogen. Cavendish is also known for the Cavendish experiment, his measurement of the Earth’s density and early research into electricity are well known.
William Murdock, the inventor of gas lighting termed as Gasometer he also made a number of discoveries in the field of chemistry.
Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of Phonograph, Light Bulb – Motion Pictures.
Guglielmo Marconi, the Nobel Prize winner in physic and the inventor of Radio.
Paul Vernier, the mathematician who described the vernier caliper measuring scale.
Samuel F B Mayors, the founder of the telegraphic system.
George Stevenson, the inventor of rail engine.
Mason, the inventor of mason’s hygrometer (for determining the relative humidity).
Anders Celsius, an Astronomer the inventor of centigrade.
Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, the physicist, who invented the alcohol thermometer, and the mercury thermometer he also introduced the temperature scale that bears his name – Fahrenheit Scale.
Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and the founder of Nobel prizes which are awarded each year to people, irrespective of nationality who made valuable contributions to the good of humanity.
John Guttenberg, the inventor of the printing machine, the inventor of the modern spinning machine,
Dr. Simpson, the inventor of chloroform,
Famous philosopher Lord Francis Bacon,
Father of modern chemistry Boyle,
Founder of Neptune Prof. Adams,
Famous geological scientist Adam Sedgwick,
Dalton, the inventor of atomic theory.
Young, the inventor of theory of light,
Kelvin the famous scientist,
Sir George Stocks is known as the modern Newton and the five times Chairman of the fellow of Royal Society,
Wilberforce, who stopped the slave system,
John Howard, reformer of the jail system,
World famous poets, Pope, Tennyson, Milton, Wordsworth, William Shakespeare the famous writer,
The brave and famous fighters like Napoleon, Nelson, Duke of Wellington,
The great philosophers like Beacons Field, Gladstone, Kitchener, Lloyd George, Balfer,
Famous Numerologists’ like John Heraclius, Laibinites, Pascal, Christopher Columbus the discoverer of America, Cook and maghalen the adventurous people, who traveled around the world in a ship,
The famous sculpture and artist Michelangelo,
OMG!!! There is no end to this list. It goes on…. These famous scientists and philosophers were believers of Christian faith.
In fact, these scientist’s discoveries and inventions are so useful for the modern man, this is an undisputed fact. The amazing thing is that a Christian’s brain is worked behind all these inventions and creations.
One who blames Christianity should check these facts and stop blaming and persecuting Christians for everything. The clothes they wear, the pen they use, the vehicle they travel, the technical instruments they use, the computer they use, the postal system a discovery of a European Christian all such things needed badly for their daily use. Even Mahatma Gandhi who discarded the foreign clothes needed a vehicle invented by a European for his travel and he used the printing machine founded by yet another European, and again he used a timepiece invented by a foreigner. These and many other things for the daily use all are created or invented by the Christians or let me put it this way, “Take the case of any invention a Christian’s brain is worked behind. No doubt even to the people of India’s developments Christians and Christianity played a vital role. Ruling or administration of a nation, war diplomacy, education, business, artifacts, dressing or dress design, and countless other areas we the Indians are now following the pattern of our western counterparts.
The fact is that a majority of Indians are rejected our traditional Indian culture and customs and now following the developing nations like Europe, America, and other Christian nations.
The Christian missionaries gifts to our educational and health system are amazing. This is yet another undisputed fact; no doubt we the Indians are indebted to the English speaking countries for the present developments in India. Just have a look at our history books that itself, will speak volumes about our previous culture, systems, habits, and traditions. And then just look at our present status this is only because of Christians influence upon us.
The interesting and shameful fact is that the people who have an enmity towards Christians and Christianity need their governments’ jobs and their university degrees and their inventions like the airplane, motor transport, the postal system, the internet facilities and numerous other systems invented by Christian believers.
In short we the Indians are very much indebted to our Christian Brethren of our present status. I am sure this is an undisputed fact.
Before the westerners arrived India what was our condition? No doubt it was in a haphazard and chaotic condition. Our women flocks were like slaves and were fully under the control of men and they were not even allowed to go out from the four walls of the kitchen. Wives can’t stand or come before the husbands. They must be away from all activities of the family, in fact, they were treated worse than slaves. They have no voice of their own and polygamy marriage system was prevalent. A historian recorded about a person who married 50 women. And one woman can have five or more husbands. There was yet another system of women staying in temples and doing all sorts of menial job for the men. This is known as Devadasi system, it was very common especially in villages. There was another kind of brutal treatment towards women, the ‘Sati System’, living wives are burned along with the dead bodies of their husbands or throwing the woman on the pyre of the husband. Another practice was throwing little children to the river Ganges as an offering to the mother river Ganges. The ill-treatment and negligence towards the blind, orphans, lepers were a common thing. There were no mental hospitals, cruel punishment was a common thing especially towards the downtrodden. There were frequent fighting between people. According to the tradition, fighting between small kings were common, the pathetic condition of the jails, no religious freedom, petty quarreling among leaders and neighboring states, corruption, unscientific cultivation, undeveloped educational system all these were the condition of our ancient India before the arrival of westerners. But after their arrival, the conditions tremendously changed and their ruling paved a basic way to the present improved or developed system.
For these tremendous changes and developments are we not indebted to the westerners? No sensible person can deny these facts. Yes, we are in every way fully indebted to our western counterparts for our present stage/status.
The people who blame Christians and Christianity should make note of these facts and stop blaming Christians and their culture. Many today just ignore these facts and just blame it on Christianity and Christians for every unfortunate thing happening around the world, especially when some untoward things happens in western countries, Christians are blamed everywhere.
How nice it would have been the people who blame Christianity and Christians make note of this.
May God help them to understand the real truth.
Source:
Keralacharitham,
Indian history
Sathiaprakashini, By Mahakavi K V Simion
Verpaadusabhakaludecharithram,
Krishtava sabhaacharithram
Kraisthava Sabha irupathu Noottandukaliloode
History of World Religion
Yahoo.com/Press Trust of India.
Google.com
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
P V Ariel’s Knol Pages
A Freelance writer from Secunderabad India
Check your domain ranking
This comment has been removed by the author.
I love your reminder that Christianity was started by twelve people.
God bless
@Jerly Comment zero LOL
@Sarah Thanks for the visit, yes it started WITH just 12 ordinary people.
@Ajith, Thanks, I Wish You The Same Sir, Best Regards
PV
Thank you for this exceptional post. I am glad that I came back through your posts to find this. I hope more readers find this.
Lee
A Faraway View
An A to Z Co-host blog
Hi Arlee,
Thanks for the visit and the encouraging comment, but sad to note that you are still not in. hope you check.
Nice to know that your are glad visiting this page. and i am happy to note that the association with you will make a difference here
Keep inform.
Keep visiting
Best Regards
Yours Sincerely
Phil
I would like to think that the numbers quoted are fairly accurate, but I don’t believe they are. I try to be an upbeat optimist and an encourager, yet at times I find myself rejecting the number who claim to be believers. If were true we would have a much greater impact on this world than we do. Matthew 7 makes it clear along with the Parable of the Sower that not all who say they are Christians or Christ followers are. I fear the number is so much less than we think and there are more tares than we want to admit – all to the glory of our majestic God. With Catholics and Mormons now considered by many to be Christians I think the numbers are skewed. However, the point is not lost that what ever the number grew from a mustard seed of 12 or so to a movement that once turned the world upside down. Oh to have that witness again.
Hi
Thanks for dropping in, and for the wonderful thoughts and information. I am really sorry for the delay in catching this up. Yes. Gregg, i fully agree with you in the number factor which you mentioned, whatever may be the figure is tremendously increasing day by day, though there are tares in between, only the eternity will reveal the facts
Keep watching,
keep inform
Best Regards
Phil
I just want to say that I found this blog bit via Arlee Bird’s endorsement of it and I am very impressed. Thanks for posting this. So few followers of Christ are willing to lay it all open like you have here; they’ll mention that they are Christians but not really make an open defense of their religious belief, leaving themselves open to criticism.
I think part of the problem is that a lot of self-professed Christians are just not adequately educated about their religion and thus feel they might not be able to defend it sufficiently in a debate with the strident (but equally uneducated) Left.
I like the people who are willing to lay it all out on the line as you have.
A couple of good books I would recommend to anyone who is just beginning to investigate the claims of Christianity and is basically starting from square one are “Learn The Bible In 24 Hours” by Dr. Chuck Missler, and “The Politically Incorrect Guide To The Bible” by the feisty Dr. Robert J. Hutchinson.
Very good work here. Thanks for telling it like it is.
~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’
Hi Stephen,
Thanks a lot for dropping in via Arlee’s endorsement, Its really good to hear that this page impressed you, yes, i fully agree with you that the main problem is no doubt the lack of awareness about their own religion and belief. Many just blindly follow and reach nowhere and least bothered about to spread it thru.
Thanks again for the book suggestions. Will you please give the links to reach those publishers.
Best Regards
Phil
Thanks so much! I thank God for you. You have articulated some things that have been on my heart for a while. God’s peace.